Vantage Data Centers has appointed Ismail (Ish) Alsheik as the company as senior vice president, general counsel.

The operator said Alsheik will develop and execute the strategic direction for Vantage’s legal and corporate governance functions globally and will play a key role in supporting the company’s continued growth.

He joins Vantage from Jones Day where he served as a partner in the mergers and acquisitions group since 2015, advising clients on transactions, corporate law and governance matters.

He has more than 16 years of legal experience advising companies on complicated business combinations, including several transactions for Vantage and its lead investor, DigitalBridge Group.

Alsheik advised on the US$3.5 billion partnership Vantage formed with a group of investors led by DigitalBridge Group in 2020 and advised DigitalBridge’s portfolio company DataBank on the $1.4 billion acquisition of zColo (Zayo’s data centre business).

He also led the advisory team for the acquisition of Vantage by a consortium that included DigitalBridge Holdings, LLC in 2017.

Sureel Choksi, president and CEO, Vantage Data Centers, said: “Ish has been a trusted advisor through many milestones in Vantage’s history, and we are thrilled to bring him onboard to lead our worldwide legal function.

“As we continue to expand rapidly around the globe, his expertise in navigating mergers and acquisitions, organic growth and past experience as a Vantage advisor will bring tremendous value to our leadership team.”

Alsheik earned his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University Law School and serves as a member of the school’s Fund Board.

He also serves on the planning committee of the Ray Garrett Jr. Corporate and Securities Law Institute.